News and Updates from FP2030

What we measure matters.

From the beginning of the FP2020 partnership, we knew our measure of success was more than the number of women using contraception. Success is knowing that every individual has the ability to choose if and when to have children, to have the information and means to carry out their decision to use contraception and has a range of contraceptive methods from which to choose.

FP2030 strives to measure progress toward this success through the many indicators included in FP2030 annual progress reporting. Since the release of our Measurement Report in December, 2021, we’ve been working closely with our partners to release additional data resources, including adolescent and youth data, country indicators sheets, and resources in French and for the first time Spanish.

We also recognize that our indicators aren’t perfect and there’s much more work to be done to improve family planning measurement. There are many ways people act on reproductive autonomy that may not involve using contraception; there are also a lot of people who use contraception for reasons other than to avoid pregnancy. Traditionally we have used the measure “unmet need” to capture those people who want to delay pregnancy but are not using a modern contraceptive method and “demand satisfied” to measure the extent to which those wanting to delay pregnancy were doing so. But does that really capture the complexity of individuals’ lives and circumstances and their needs and demands?

In a just published article in Global Health: Science and Practice, the Performance Monitoring and Evidence Working Group suggests that now is the time to revisit these important indicators, particularly the language we use to communicate “unmet need” and “demand satisfied” and the ways that we measure them. My colleague Shiza Farid and I summarize the commentary and why revisiting these indicators is important.

Measurement is just a small part of our transitional work. In the coming weeks, we are looking forward to announcing the locations of the first FP2030 hubs outside of North America, the first concrete steps in our transition to a truly global partnership support structure. Later in the month, we will also be leading a side event at the 66th meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. You can learn more about and register for that event here.

Best regards,

Jason Bremner
Senior Director, Data & Measurement

Spotlight: Measurement & Data Resources

This first FP2030 Measurement Report reflects the new partnership’s shift in focus and structure. The report is available in English, French, and Spanish, and there are a suite of other measurement resources now available.

Read the Measurement Report

FP2030 was glad to feature DKT International in our November event, Launching FP2030, with Chris Purdy, President, speaking to the importance of private sector engagement in meeting family planning and reproductive health goals. Now, DKT International together with Putnam Associates and Institution: IREX have authored a new journal article: Private Sector’s Potential to Deliver Sexual Reproductive Health.

Young people must be closely involved and engaged in family planning and reproductive health advocacy so that policies and programs can be better designed to serve their needs. In a recent blog post, Pathfinder International shared that it (in collaboration with PAI, AFP, and the Ouagadougou Partnership) is implementing a regional project to support and mentor youth organizations to further empower them in their advocacy work.

Global Health Media Project is just announced a new set of family planning videos focusing on six methods that do not have hormones. The methods are condoms (male and female), the new single-sized Caya diaphragm, the breastfeeding method, and fertility awareness methods. The videos were shot in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the USA. Each method has a video for health workers and a companion video for women and their partners. These videos are available here in English, French, and Spanish.

A new episode of Inside the FP Story podcast is now available! In the sixth episode of Inside the FP Story — the last for this season — guests will share stories about strengthening partnerships and advocacy for family planning. Listen now!